Chandigarh: In an unprecedented development, several Punjab cabinet ministers walked out of a pre-cabinet meeting on liquor policy, following an alleged argument between Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh. The meeting was called to discuss the new liquor policy, before it was to be approved in the Cabinet meeting later.
Besides the ministers, the meeting was attended by Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Suresh Kumar, and Principal Secretary to the CM Tejvir Singh. The situation became tense when during the course of discussion, the Chief Secretary made observations about the non-viability of certain suggestions put forth by the ministers. Certain remarks reportedly made by the Chief Secretary were objected to by the Finance Minister, who stood up and left the meeting.
Later, Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa also reportedly made certain observations against the functioning of the Excise Department. Though the senior officials tried to pacify the ministers, they had started leaving the venue. The meeting was to be followed by lunch before the Cabinet meeting. But after the fiasco, the Cabinet meeting was postponed.
The ministers suggested a government department taking control of the unsold vends and certain other changes in the excise policy. The other ministers present at the meeting were Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Balbir Sidhu, Vijay Inder Singla and OP Soni.
Before leaving, the ministers reportedly expressed anguish over the delay in finalising the excise policy and bureaucracy calling the shots in decision-making in the government. Ever since the Covid-19 lockdown began, some of the ministers have been reported to be sulking over being ignored in decision-making and the bureaucrats running the show.
Due to the social distancing, the ministers have not been able to meet Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and have been interacting through video-conferencing, during cabinet meetings.
Opposition criticises govt
Meanwhile, the opposition SAD, BJP and AAP targeted the Congress government, saying a 'constitutional crisis' has erupted and Cabinet ministers have 'lost faith' in the government, a day after a showdown between the ministers and the chief secretary. Akali Dal spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said a 'constitutional crisis' had erupted in Punjab, with Cabinet ministers expressing 'loss of faith' in the government.
'It is unfortunate when every state is doing its utmost to combat Covid-19, the Punjab Cabinet is fighting with bureaucrats as witnessed in yesterday's pre-cabinet meeting,' he said in a statement.
With the Cabinet not 'trusting' the bureaucrats and vice versa, there is a leadership crisis due to which Punjab and Punjabis are suffering, he claimed.
